South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has achieved remarkable success beyond the hardwood. Her books have captured readers nationwide, proving her influence extends far past championship victories and Olympic medals.
The celebrated coach’s literary debut represents years of dedication and collaboration. Industry professionals and publishing teams invested countless hours bringing her powerful story to life, creating an authentic narrative that resonates deeply with diverse audiences.
Bestseller Achievement Brings Overwhelming Joy
Staley’s excitement was palpable in her recent social media announcement celebrating the milestone. She shared enthusiastic posts across platforms, expressing gratitude to her incredible teams, readers, listeners, and supporters who helped make “Uncommon Favor” a bestseller success story.
BIG BIG I MEAN HUGE NEWS my good peeps! WE ARE A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Thank you to our incredible teams, every reader, every listener and every supporter for the work to make UNCOMMON FAVOR a bestseller! Unbelievable! Unimaginable! Thank you lord for your UNCOMMON FAVOR❤️ pic.twitter.com/vS8Aw9BzbC
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) May 28, 2025
Her heartfelt message revealed genuine emotion as she shared the news directly with supporters. “You heard me, New York best seller. Number two overall in all books sold to date. All books sold, all books out of all the books, the number two book sold this week,” Staley announced with unmistakable pride and amazement.
The memoir secured the impressive #2 position on the prestigious New York Times Best Sellers list for the week, landing just behind “Original Sin” by Jack Tapper and Alex Thompson.
This achievement places Staley among elite authors whose works have captured national attention and commercial success.
“Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three” offers readers an intimate glimpse into Staley’s transformative journey. The 256-page memoir, published by Atria/Black Privilege Publishing, chronicles her path from North Philadelphia streets to basketball greatness.
Staley’s authentic storytelling explores overcoming sexism, isolation and adversity throughout her career. She candidly shares mental fortitude lessons and leadership principles that shaped her into one of basketball’s most respected figures, both as player and coach.
The book’s impact extends beyond sports enthusiasts, attracting readers seeking inspiration and life guidance. Staley mentioned receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews from family, friends and strangers, with many using quotes from the book to navigate their own life challenges and personal growth.
Her extensive book tour included major appearances in New York, Philadelphia and Columbia, featuring a significant signing event at Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue. Basketball legends like Magic Johnson have publicly acknowledged the book’s impact, demonstrating its reach throughout sports communities.
Staley’s gratitude was evident throughout her announcement, “Thank you. Thank you, everybody, for your support. Thank you for reading it. Thank you for relating to it. Thank you for taking this journey with me.”
KEEP READING: Dawn Staley to Headline 2025 UNMATCHED Conference in Toronto, Championing Gender Equity in Sports
This bestseller achievement represents more than commercial success for the three-time national championship coach. Following South Carolina’s impressive 35-4 season, Staley continues demonstrating her ability to excel across multiple platforms while inspiring countless individuals through authentic storytelling.
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